Konflikte und Konfliktlösung in den Staaten sozialer Insekten. Zwischen Superorganismus und Polizeistaat

Insect societies have traditionally been considered as harmonious, peaceful superorganisms in which all individuals altruistically cooperate to increase the reproductive success of the society as a whole. Over the last decade, this view has changed dramatically. Individual group members can pursue their egoistic interests at a cost to the whole society. The integrity of the society is sustained usually by the suppression of egoistic reproduction by workers, either through direct interference by the queen, the establishment of dominance hierarchies, or mutual policing and punishment. A detailed analysis of the processes in insect societies helps to understand which processes maintain the cooperation among egoistic individuals.